Peter Campbell, 67, from Hamilton Court, insisted the street lighting had been poor for more than three years.

He said: “It has been a real issue down here and the lamp posts are still not fixed.

“I have complained to Renfrewshire Council for years and been told there was a programme of putting in LED lights and we just have to wait for the catch up.

“But even these lights are turned the wrong way and lighting up the grass courts instead of the pavements.

“And there is one in Stock Street which is down and it is so bad it’s in a dangerous condition. It’s been like that for three and a half years.”

Peter, a retired heavy goods mechanic, said: “I had to retire early on health grounds and there a few old folk around here and this doens’t help.

“ I am not the only one who has complained about the lights and the problems it’s caused.

“There are a group of bowlers who head to the Charleston Bowling Club with torches because it’s so bad.

“I have been here for seven and a half years and this is as bad as I’ve seen the lighting.

“I phoned up Charleston Tenants and Residents Association and they are on the case along with Councillor Eddie Devine.”

Councillor Devine said one the lampposts was flattened by a car and at least one other is definitely fdacing the wrong way.

He added: “There is one lamppost that is not round the right way and another in Stock Street that was knocked down by a vehicle.

“It seems to have taken the top off the lamp post and left the bottom half.

“I have been onto the council and they say they are going to get it done.

“But I have requested they get it sorted out as soon as possible because there are a lot of elderly residents around that area with the Charleston high flats there.

”Plus, with the clocks going back it means it’s getting darker earlier in the evening now.”

Workmen were sent out to inspect several lampposts just hours after the Paisley Daily Express contacted the council yesterday.

A council spokesman said: “The light at the main entrance to the Hamilton Court flats will be repaired within 24 hours.

“We respond quickly to dark lamps and figures show we achieve 95 per cent of repairs within our target timescale.

“The Stock Street light is an old-fashioned lamppost and repairs will be completed within the next week, however other lamp-posts are in close proximity and, as Stock Street continues to have adequate lighting, there is no safety issue.

“We are progressing with new LED lamps, which are more reliable, improve visibility, enhance pedestrian and road safety, deliver environmental benefits and save 60 per cent of our energy bill for lighting.”